Nextsure horse insurance experiences: How to avoid hidden costs and secure the best cover for your horse
05.09.2025
11
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A colic operation on a horse can quickly cost more than €10,000. Many horse owners are unprepared for such financial burdens, which can lead to difficult decisions. This article shows you how to find the right cover and what really makes good horse insurance.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Colic surgery can cost up to 35,000 euros, which is why surgical insurance is a financial necessity.
Pay attention to the waiting periods: for colic, it is often only five to seven days; for illnesses, three months; and for chip procedures, up to twelve months.
Your insurance plan should cover at least twice the schedule of fees for veterinarians (GOT) to avoid high out-of-pocket costs.
Realistically assess financial risks
The cost of veterinary treatment for horses is a significant factor. An operation for colic can cost between 7,500 and 35,000 euros. Even a necessary dental operation often comes with a price tag of up to 3,000 euros. Without insurance cover, owners must pay these sums themselves within just a few days. Solid horse insurance is therefore not a luxury decision, but an economic necessity. The monthly premiums are no match for the potential one-off costs that a serious injury or illness can cause. Good cover protects your assets and ensures the best possible care for your horse.
These figures make it clear why choosing the right insurance cover is so crucial.
Compare surgical cover and comprehensive health insurance in detail
The key decision when it comes to horse insurance is between a standalone surgery insurance policy and comprehensive equine health insurance. A standalone horse surgery insurance policy covers, as the name suggests, only the costs of surgical procedures. The more comprehensive equine health insurance also includes outpatient treatment, medication and diagnostics. The choice depends heavily on your individual appetite for risk and your budget. Bear in mind that even a series of smaller treatments can quickly reach costs of over 1,000 euros per year.
Here are the main differences at a glance:
Surgery insurance: Covers the costs of operations, anaesthesia, clinic stays for up to 15 days after the surgery and the associated aftercare.
Health insurance: Also covers regular vet visits, diagnostics such as X-rays or MRI scans, medication and often preventive measures such as vaccinations.
Cost factor: Surgery insurance is available from around 25 euros per month, while a full health insurance policy often costs over 100 euros.
Our expert tip: For most horse owners, surgery insurance offers the best compromise between cost protection and premium burden, as it covers the biggest financial risks.
Once the type of cover has been chosen, the contract details must be checked carefully.
Review contract details: waiting periods and exclusions
Negative experiences with insurance often arise from misunderstandings about the policy terms and conditions. Two of the most important points are waiting periods and exclusions. An insurance policy does not provide cover from day one. For colic operations, there is usually a shortened waiting period of only five to seven days. For general illnesses, it is usually three months; for joint operations (OCD/chips), it can be up to twelve months. Pre-existing conditions that are known at the time the contract is concluded are permanently excluded from insurance cover. Honesty in the health questions is therefore essential in order not to jeopardise the insurance cover. A careful look at the terms and conditions protects against nasty surprises and is a key component of positive nextsure horse insurance experiences.
Another decisive factor for cost reimbursement is the fee schedule for veterinarians.
Understanding the veterinary fee schedule (GOT) as a cost factor
Veterinarians bill their services according to the Schedule of Fees for Veterinarians (GOT). This was last adjusted on 22 November 2022, which led to a significant increase in treatment costs. The GOT sets a fee range from the single rate to the fourfold rate. In emergency out-of-hours service or for complex treatments, a veterinarian may charge up to four times the rate. Make sure that your policy reimburses at least twice the GOT rate. Many low-cost basic plans only cover up to the single rate, which in an emergency can lead to a coverage gap of 50 per cent or more. A good policy should even cover the fourfold rate in an emergency, to protect you fully from co-payments. These details make the difference between genuine protection and a false sense of security.
In addition to the direct treatment costs, legal protection for the horse owner is also of great importance.
Do not underestimate liability risks under Section 833 of the German Civil Code
As a horse owner, you are liable without limitation and regardless of fault for damage caused by your animal. This is set out in Section 833 of the German Civil Code (BGB) as so-called strict liability. This means that even if you are not at fault, you must pay for the damage. A typical example is a horse breaking out from the pasture and causing a road traffic accident with personal injury amounting to more than one million euros. A comprehensive horse liability insurance is therefore not legally required, but is absolutely indispensable. Make sure that the sum insured is at least ten million euros. This cover protects your private financial security from the financial consequences of an unforeseeable event.
With the right knowledge of costs, contracts and liability, you can handle a claim confidently.
Ensure a positive experience in the event of a claim
The quality of an insurance policy becomes clear in an emergency. Smooth and swift processing is essential. The average time for a claims settlement should not exceed ten working days. You can help to speed up the process yourself. Our advice at nextsure supports you in getting everything right from the outset.
Follow these four steps for a quick reimbursement:
Immediate notification: Inform your insurer straight away about the upcoming procedure, ideally before the operation (except in acute emergencies).
Use direct billing: Ask the veterinary clinic whether direct billing with the insurer is possible. This saves you from having to pay out thousands of euros upfront.
Complete documentation: Submit all invoices and the veterinarian’s reports in full and legibly. Good documentation prevents follow-up questions that can delay the process by up to two weeks.
Check the diagnosis: Make sure the diagnosis is clearly stated on the invoice and matches the reported claim.
Request an individual risk analysis now: have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive concrete suggestions for optimisation.
More useful links
The German Equestrian Federation (FN) offers figures and facts about horses and equestrian sport in Germany.
The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) provides information on notifiable animal diseases and reportable animal illnesses.
The Welttierschutzbund highlights the situation of horses in Germany.
Statista provides statistics on private horse ownership in Germany.
The University of Göttingen offers a publication on horse husbandry.
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) publishes an article on the development of horse husbandry in Germany.
FAQ
What is the difference between equine surgery insurance and equine health insurance?
The horse surgery insurance covers only the costs of surgical procedures, including pre- and post-treatment. The equine health insurance is comprehensive cover, which also covers the costs of outpatient treatment, diagnostics and medication without an operation.
What does the GOT rate mean on the vet bill?
The Schedule of Fees for Veterinarians (GOT) is a legal regulation that specifies what veterinarians may charge for their services. Depending on the effort involved and the circumstances, they can charge the simple, double, triple or, in emergency out-of-hours services, even the quadruple fee rate.
Can I still insure my horse when it is older?
Yes, many insurers offer policies with no upper age limit. However, premiums for older horses may be higher, and a more thorough health assessment takes place.
Is the insurance coverage also valid abroad?
Yes, most plans offer cover for temporary stays abroad, for example for tournaments or holidays, across Europe or even worldwide for a period of up to twelve months.
What happens if I fail to disclose a pre-existing condition in the health questions?
Failing to disclose pre-existing conditions constitutes a breach of the pre-contractual duty of disclosure. In this case, the insurer may withdraw from the contract or refuse to pay out. In the worst case, you may lose your insurance cover, but still have to continue paying the premiums.
Why is horse liability insurance so important?
Under Section 833 BGB, as a horse owner you are liable for all damage caused by your animal – and without limit to your private assets. Horse liability insurance protects you against the financial consequences, which can quickly run into the millions.
